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Potential of aspirin to inhibit thrombotic microangiopathy in alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pig hearts after transplantation in baboons.

Dor FJ, Kuwaki K, Tseng YL, Shimizu A, Houser SL, Yamada K, Hawley RJ, Patience C, Awwad M, Fishman JA, Robson SC, Sachs DH, Schuurman HJ, Cooper DK

Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Hearts from alpha1,3-Galactosyltransferase gene-knockout (GaIT-KO) pigs were transplanted heterotopically into 8 baboons that received an anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunosuppressive regimen and heparin. Three baboons died or were euthanized with beating grafts on 16, 23, and 56 days, respectively, and the remaining 5 grafts functioned for 59-179 days. Hyperacute rejection did not occur, and classical features of acute humoral xenograft or acute cellular rejection were rare. However, thrombotic microangiopathy (TM) developed in all cases; its onset was delayed in 2 baboons that received aspirin. Function of a pig organ in a baboon for a period approaching 6 months has not been reported previously and lends encouragement that the barriers to xenotransplantation will be overcome, but TM requires investigation.

Published 5 April 2005 in Transplant Proc, 37(1): 489-90.
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